Santiago, January 7.- Passing through Santiago on his way to Buenos Aires, Argentina – where he will hand over the pro tempore presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States ( CELAC ) today –, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard met yesterday with the president-elect of Chile, Gabriel Boric, to inaugurate what he predicts will be a historic stage in the strategic ties between both nations.
"We wanted to convey the greetings and sympathy of the Mexican government to him and his team, for the causes they champion and what they represent for Latin America, because it represents a very important renewal for the entire continent. We also wanted to express Mexico's desire to have a close relationship with the new Chilean government, not only for historical reasons, which are very important and humane—yesterday I was at the Mexican embassy residence where more than two thousand people have sought asylum or passed through—but also not only for the history, which is very important, but also for the future of our societies, our interest in having a close relationship," he explained.
Asylum and protection
He referred to what happened after the military coup of 1973, when the asylum and protection provided by Mexico , like many other nations, saved the lives of thousands of Chileans besieged by the dictatorship.
Regarding the meeting with Boric, which lasted more than half an hour on Thursday morning, Ebrard stated that we have significant common ground, including ensuring that Latin America and the Caribbean enhance their international voice, strengthening cooperation and coordination to achieve a drastic reduction in inequality and guarantee freedom on the continent. They also discussed strengthening the Pacific Alliance, a regional integration initiative that unites Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.
